RNG NEWS
RFS Reset Plan from EPA Still Not Coming Soon
The notice of proposed rulemaking for the reset of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is still a ways off as there are now additional meetings scheduled on the topic at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) which is currently reviewing the EPA proposal on the topic.
So far, a total of nine meetings have been held or will be held at OMB on the reset plan. Sessions this week included one Monday with representatives of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas. A meeting will take place Wednesday with a representative of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and a session Friday is on tap with PBF Energy.
By Progressive Farmer
Renewable Energy Effort Driven by Hog Waste
In partnership, Roeslein Alternative Energy and Smithfield Hog Production are working to capture renewable natural gas from the waste of the approximate 2 million hogs that circulate through Smithfield’s northern Missouri operations each year.
The venture, now called Monarch Bio Energy, was first initialized by RAE’s founder Rudi Roeslein in 2011 when he approached Smithfield Hog Production’s predecessor company Murphy Brown about the project; the conversations resulted in a business agreement in 2012 to launch Horizon 1 of Roeslein’s RNG project. Believing in the ultimate success of the model, Roeslein committed to invest in the needed infrastructure on the farms and financially support the project through initial phases.
By Laura Handke, High Plains Journal
Oneida County Converting Food Waste into RNG
New York state will soon require large generators of food waste donate what they can to those in need and compost the rest. The mandate won't go into effect until 2022, but work is already underway in the Mohawk Valley to meet this new recycling challenge.
Bill Rabbia, executive director of the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (OHSWA), says they do their best to make one last use of the trash that ends up in landfills by capturing the methane gas it emits to generate electricity. However, Rabbia says the system is imperfect.
By Payne Horning, WRVO
Hawaii Gas Increases Sustainability with the State's Aloha+ Challenge
Throughout its history, Hawaii Gas has continued to evolve its business to meet the ever changing energy needs of the local community. Today is no different. HG continually strives to make its products cleaner, more affordable, and more efficient. We are committed to helping the state achieve its clean energy and sustainability goals, which is why we have been taking action.
In 2017, Hawaii Gas joined forces with the governor, the state’s four county mayors, Office of Hawaiian Affairs and community stakeholders in committing to what’s known as the ALOHA+ CHALLENGE.
By Hawaii Gas
The Future of Landfill Gas-to-energy
Operators champion landfill gas as a source of renewable energy and revenue. But as communities seek to divert more organics and climate anxiety intensifies, the practice has been decried as greenwashing.
The full story of landfill gas (LFG) is complicated.
Capturing LFG creates beneficial use opportunities and earns operators revenue, in addition to reducing the global warming potential of the gas that is successfully captured. However, the system may be imperfect from an economic and environmental standpoint. Other forms of electricity generation from waste have efficiency advantages, and the ability of LFG capture systems to effectively mitigate net greenhouse gas emissions is contested.
By Max Witynski, Waste Dive
Xebec Announces Inclusion in DOE Project to Enable Economical Biomethane Production
Xebec Adsorption Inc. (TSXV: XBC) (OTC: XEBEF) (“Xebec”), a global provider of clean energy solutions is pleased to announce today its inclusion in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) US$24 million commitment to a public-private collaboration funding 77 energy technology projects.
With matching funds from the private sector, the Office of Technology Transition’s (OTT) Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) will advance the commercialization of promising energy technologies and strengthen partnerships between DOE’s National Laboratories and private sector companies to deploy these technologies to the marketplace.
By Oil & Gas 360
Minneapolis-based M-RETS Renewable Energy Certificates Program Includes RNG
North America’s first pilot project allowing companies to claim environmental credits for renewable natural gas may be a boon for utilities providing home heating.
The Minneapolis-based Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS) will begin in July creating “renewable energy certificates” (RECs) produced from the manufacture of renewable natural gas — methane captured from landfills, sewage plants, farms, and other sources. In the past, the credits have been mainly awarded for solar, wind and hydropower in the electric sector.
By Frank Jossi, Energy News Network
GESS International to Construct Fifth Biogas Upgrading Plant in Missouri
GESS International, a highly experienced and globally established renewable energy company, previously announced plans to construct four green energy biogas plants across Missouri in March 2019. Among the Missouri developments there will now be an additional facility built in Chariton County, Missouri.
The new $40 million investment will create 21 new jobs for the surrounding community. On an annual basis, this Biogas facility will convert 140,000 tons of cattle and swine manure and 70,000 tons of agricultural residues into 550,000 MMbtu worth of renewable natural gas (RNG). This output is enough to power 6,800 homes for one year, while reducing methane emissions and any potential environmental impacts from local farm operations.
By GESS International, Biomass Magazine
BIO World Congress Eyes Taking Low-Carbon Fuel Standards Beyond California
The uncertainty of the federal Renewable Fuels Standard and political fights with the petroleum industry are giving more weight to the need for major biofuel states to consider their own low-carbon fuel standards.
After years of pushing for a federal low-carbon fuels standard, the Governors' Biofuels Coalition is turning more attention to states with governors who want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or governors in states with large renewable fuel industries, said Larry Pearce, executive director of the coalition.
By Chris Clayton, Progressive Farmer
RNG Now Available in New York City as Clean Energy Opens Fueling Station in The South Bronx
-Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE), the leading provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America, welcomed city officials, community leaders, and environmental advocates to the opening of its newest natural gas fueling station in Hunts Point—the first station in New York City to exclusively offer renewable natural gas (RNG) for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleets.
“A few blocks from here is Hunts Point Market, the largest food distribution center of its kind in the world, resulting in approximately 15,000 truck trips per day,” said Chad Lindholm, vice president of sales for Clean Energy. “This long-envisioned station will serve fleets operating in Hunts Point with a lower-cost alternative to diesel fuel that can lead to substantial reductions in truck-related pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.”
By Business Wire